BELGAUM: The historic Belgaum Fort is soon going to get a facelift. The 400-year-old fort which is in control of Archeological Department will be renovated by the state government.

The district administration has sought Rs 10 crore from the Tourism Department to repair the boundary walls. The fort is surrounded by a canal which at present is filled with dirty water.

The administration is planning to clean the canal and fill it with fresh water so that it can be used for boating. A plan has been prepared to lay a garden in front of the fort with fountains to attract more tourists.

Deputy Commissioner Ekroop Caur has already spoken to Tourism Minister Janardhan Reddy and convinced him of the plan.

She told Express that the Tourism Department has agreed to the proposal and will soon release the funds.

Though the inner circle of the fort is under the supervision of the Archeological Department, several parts of the fort are occupied by government offices and other agencies.

Recently, the Income Tax Department started constructing quarters for its employees in front of the fort, however, the Archeological Survey of India stopped the construction.